The Green Bank Observatory employees established a sustainability committee in late 2020 to develop new initiatives for local residents to improve their environment and their lives.
Observatory staff lead new sustainability intiatives
Spring & Summer Outdoor Programs are Now Open
Can Green Bank Telescope Defend Against Asteroid Apophis?
The National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Telescope (GBT) is teaming up with NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) to observe this potentially hazardous asteroid. These new observations of Apophis will allow scientists to improve their understanding of the asteroid’s orbit, and better estimate the odds that Apophis could strike the Earth in the future. Predicting if there is a real chance of impact, decades ahead of time, gives scientists the opportunity to take action to manipulate the orbit of Apophis to avoid a collision in the future.
(more…)NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover landing observed by the Green Bank Telescope
This “waterfall image” is actually three separate observations combined to show NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover as it enters the Martian atmosphere before touching down on the red planet. Green Bank Observatory Data Analyst Amber Bonsall created this image using data received by the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). The GBT was pointed at Mars to observe communications from the rover as it landed February 18th, 2021 at 3:55 p.m. EDT.
(more…)NASA Mars Rover Touches Down, Green Bank Telescope Receives Signal
The Green Bank Telescope’s Part in the NASA Perseverance Mars Rover Landing
GREEN BANK, WEST VIRGINIA – Cheers could be heard throughout the Green Bank Observatory as NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover successfully touched down on the red planet Thursday, February 18th, at 3:55 p.m. EDT. The National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Telescope (GBT) helped relay communications from the rover to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) located in southern California.
(more…)Mars Rover Phones Home, Green Bank Telescope Answers
West Virginia’s Role in the NASA Perseverance Mars Rover Landing
The National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Telescope (GBT), located in Green Bank, West Virginia, plays a role in the upcoming mission of the NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The GBT will receive communications from the rover as it arrives on Mars on February 18th and pass these on to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) located in southern California.
(more…)Green Bank Sustainable Living Guide
Green Bank Observatory Sustainability Committee
The Green Bank Observatory employees established a sustainability committee in late 2020 to develop new initiatives for local residents to improve their environment and their lives.
2021 Tree Planting on Green Bank Observatoy campus – photos coming soon!
2021 Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau Road Clean-up in Green Bank – photos coming soon!
Earth Day
Wild and Wonderful Earth Day state level celebration and schedule for 2021
The West Virginia SPOT program (Science Public Outreach Team) has several presentations that focus on Earth science. Learn more and see upcoming dates here.
Local Food
Green Bank Farmer’s Market, Wednesdays 3-6pm Senior Center parking lot
Pocahontas County Farmer’s Market
Trent’s General Store sell locally sourced products in season, and everything else you need
Frostmore Farms produce and sell maple syrup
Grow Appalachia (High Rocks West Virginia site) garden planning resources
Allegheny Mountain Institute free virtual workshops, in person workshops and events for a fee, farmer’s market and CSAs
Highland County (Virginia) Farmers Market
Horse manure for gardening and composting $10/load, Ashley Sheets apperformancehorses@gmail.com
Eggs can be purchased locally from several individuals, including Elaine Sheets ejzksheets@gmail.com
Recycling
Recycling can be dropped off at the Green Box waste collection area in Green Bank which accepts cardboard boxes, office paper, newspapers, magazines, and plastics #1 and #2 from Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am-5pm and Sundays from 1pm – 4pm
The Pocahontas County Landfill accepts white goods, electronics, and tires and is open Monday – Friday 8am-4pm
Elkins Metal Recycling (1404 15th Street, Elkins 26241) accepts aluminum, steel, white paper, magazines, cardboard, and plastics #1 and #2
Recycling can be dropped off at bins located in the Walmart and Kroger parking lots in Elkins, WV
GBT@20 Data Image Contest Winners Announced
We are very excited to announce the winners to our GBT@20 contest, using actual GBT data to create images!
First Place: Annika Kreikenbohm, a still from a 3D mapping/animation of the maser disk in galaxy NGC 1194, culminating from 7 years of data.
Second Place: Kat Barger, a still from a3D mapping/animation of Complex A, a high velocity gas cloud, and its Hydrogen gas distribution that rotates through position and velocity maps.
Third Place: Preet Agnihotri, with GBT data adapted into a composite image and sonification.
Honorable Mention: Preet Agnihotri, with more GBT data adapted into a composite image and sonification.
Honorable Mention: A composite image created by Emily Moravec.
Honorable Mention: Jeremy Thorley, who produced a 3D printed lamp using GBT data and Observatory logo.
“Don’t give up, it will happen.” Virtual Workshop Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Green Bank Telescope
Just over twenty years ago, in the summer of the year 2000, the National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Telescope (GBT) was dedicated for service. Taller than the Statue of Liberty, with a dish that can hold two football fields, the GBT remains the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world. To celebrate the creation of such a colossal instrument, and the scientific research made possible, the Observatory will be holding a special virtual workshop April 21st to 22nd, GBT@20: Twenty Years of Innovation and Discovery.
Earth Is Safe From Asteroid Apophis for 100-Plus Years
Green Bank Telescope Teams Up With NASA’s JPL Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex to Track Asteroid
The near-Earth object was thought to pose a slight risk of impacting Earth in 2068, but now radar observations have ruled that out.